Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1999. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
PRNewswire - October 25, 1999
GET TESTED! Week - October 25-30 - is a five borough initiative sponsored by Montefiore Medical Center and a coalition of adolescent health centers and programs that offer free and confidential HIV counseling and testing for young people ages 13-21. It kicks off tonight with "Let's Talk About HIV: The Real Deal" at the world famous Apollo Theatre in Harlem. The event will host 500 young people from throughout New York City for an open dialogue, in a talk show format, hosted by Lisa Evers of radio station WQHT's (HOT 97) "Street Soldiers."
By calling 718-881-TEST young people can receive information about youth-oriented clinics they can visit throughout the five boroughs of New York City. Oral testing is offered at participating sites providing an accurate HIV test without blood or needles. In 1999 more than 100 organizations from throughout New York City are endorsing and participating in GET TESTED! Week.
"We can no longer ignore that new HIV infections are spreading among teens. HIV is real in this age group and we must address this health emergency head-on. Youth, whether they are gay, straight or bisexual, who have sex without a condom are at risk and must have information and access to HIV counseling, testing and care," stated Donna Futterman, MD, Director of the Adolescent AIDS Program of Montefiore Medical Center (Bronx, NY).
The Apollo Theatre event will include a panel of young leaders and a listening gallery of adult leaders from the community. Young audience participants will take part in the open discussions which will include topics of safer sex, risk factors, respect for each other and HIV counseling, testing and care. NITE STAR Theater, a highly acclaimed acting troupe, will perform discussion-provoking scenarios.
The HIV. LIVE WITH IT. GET TESTED! campaign has created an innovative new outreach magazine called "THE DEAL". This CD-sized "teen 'zine'" is being launched during GET TESTED! Week and includes information about music, dating, HIV, health, fitness and community resources for young people as well as articles created by the campaign's youth advisory committee. "THE DEAL" has a unique hip-hop edge and brings information to young people in a format not typical of many health brochures.
"Young people today know what's going on and hate being preached to - but we need good dependable information. Adults today forget we're able to make smart decisions if we know where to find youth-friendly services we can trust," said Martha Diaz a Bronx-based a community youth leader who works with the program. "We care about our health and want to live long lives - this program helps by providing a full range of health services with staff who understand and care about us."
In 1999, HIV. LIVE WITH IT. GET TESTED! will conduct campaigns in six US cities including Baltimore, Los Angeles, Miami, Philadelphia and Washington, DC in addition to New York. The program received funding from the Congressional Black Caucus Health Emergency Special Allocation provided through the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). The W.T. Grant Foundation, The Royal S. Marks Foundation, CablePositive and The Children's Hope Foundation also provided funding to support the program.
The Adolescent AIDS Program of Montefiore Medical Center was created in 1987 to provide comprehensive medical and psychosocial care for HIV-infected youth and to raise public awareness about youth and HIV. It is the nation's first and largest HIV testing, counseling and medical treatment clinic offering services to HIV-infected youth and at-risk youth between the ages of 13 and 21.
SOURCE HIV. LIVE WITH IT. GET TESTED!
CONTACT: Kira Antell of Medisphere Communications, 212-448-6823, for HIV. LIVE WITH IT. GET TESTED!/
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